TORTOISES AND TURTLES 



155 



originally brought from the Seychelles, is definitely known to have lived for over 130 years 

 from the date of its transportation. It is stated to have been of large size when imported ; 

 and as these animals are notoriousl}' slow growers, another couple of centuries may be safely 

 added to its life-span. The Galapagos Islands down to recent times have produced the greater 

 number of species of these tortoises, the carapace of the largest of these not infrequently 

 measuring as much as 4 feet in direct length, and the weight of such an animal being 

 over 400 lbs. 



Highly interesting details concerning the Galapagos giant tortoises and their habits are 

 contained in Darwin's " \'o\'age of the Beagle." At the time of that illustrious naturalist's 

 visit they were still very abundant in the islands. He remarked that they abounded in both 

 the higher and damper and the lower and arid districts, but gave preference to the former. 



Pham fv i'. t.. Pj^'f A' 5c7i, ylvUsburf, by perfusion of the Hen. iruiltr Kotht.hild 



ELEPHANT-TORTOISES FROM THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS 



Sei'fra! ipecies are ihoivn in this photograph 



The old males were invariably the largest, growing to such a size that they required six or 

 eight men to lift them, and yielded as much as 200 lbs. of good, highly nutritious meat. On 

 some of the islands there was no water; and in these cases, as also when the\' occurred in the 

 dry and arid lowlands, they were observed to feed chiefly on the succulent cactuses. When 

 water was plentiful, the tortoises exhibited a great fondness for it, drinking large quantities 

 and wallowing in the mud. In the larger islands, where wells and springs existed in the 

 higher and damper portions, regular well-beaten paths radiated in ever\- direction, indicating 

 the routes, like sheep-tracks, regularly followed by the tortoises to and from the water-holes. 

 It was these tracks which betra\'ed their presence and led to their first discovery b_\' the older 

 Spanish navigators. When travelling long distances to the watering-places, it is recorded that 

 they march night and day, pursuing the " even tenor of their way" at the rate of si.xty yards 

 an hoiu' — one yard per minute, or four miles per day! During the breeding-season the larger 

 males indulge in hoarse roarings or bellowings that can be heard for a considerable distance. 

 .The female deposits her eggs either in the sand, where this is plentiful, covering them up 



